"Asia’s catastrophic malnutrition levels are the single greatest barrier to the evolution of a modern, knowledge-based workforce that can manage the economic powerhouse it has the promise to become."

(Sheila Sisulu, World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director)

Low iron has a profound effect

Although younger girls often appear to be in good health, low iron levels profoundly affect many aspects of their day to day lives, including an ability to concentrate, and thus learn, in school.

"In tests we have carried out we think that the IQ in British girls who get enough iron in their diets and those who are anaemic can mean the difference of a whole grade in school exams".

(Dr Mike Nelson, nutritionist at King's College)

Basic learning cannot be compensated for, if missed.

What you cannot learn in school at a particular time is very hard or even impossible to compensate for later in life.

This goes for all sufferers of iron deficiency worldwide

"Iron deficiency and anaemia affect more than 3.5 billion people around the world resulting in health problems and cognitive impairment at all stages of life."

(WHO)

The primary caregiver needs to be strong

A mother weakened by iron and vitamin A deficiency cannot give her children the upbringing needed to complete their education and achieve their full social and economic potential.

As the primary caregiver of the family, a mother needs essential micronutrients in order to do her job well.

It is also crucial for infants and young children to get good nutrition at this vital stage of their development.

Malnutrition in early childhood undermines children’s physical stature and cognitive abilities and impedes their performance in school.

Undernourishment often is hereditary

Undernourished adolescent girls bear underweight babies, who then continue the insidious cycle of malnutrition into the next generation.

Anaemic adults and children cost developing countries billions of dollars in lost productivity, according to recent study.

"One in three of the world's population suffers from anaemia so this has tremendous economic consequences," said Sue Horton, a University of Toronto economics professor and lead author of the study, 'The Economics of Iron Deficiency"

The solution

All iron comes from the diet

There are only two kinds of iron that we can use; heme iron from meat, poultry or fish and non-heme iron from vegetables, dairy products or chemically bonded iron in the usual supplements.

Heme iron is taken up along the whole gastrointestinal tract (not only the first part).

Unlike non-heme iron, absorption of heme iron is not affected by other chelating components of the diet such as phytates, tannates and phosphate.

All regular supplements are artificial/synthetic. They feature chemically bonded iron such as Ferrous Sulphate, Ferrous Fumarate or Ferroglycine Sulphate).

Heme iron is natural for man

”Conventional iron deficiency treatment with pharmacological iron doses often causes side
-effects such as abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea”